Nitric oxide signaling molecules in acupoints: Toward mechanisms of acupuncture

Sheng-xing Ma

doi:10.1007/s11655-017-2789-x

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Nitric oxide signaling molecules in acupoints: Toward mechanisms of acupuncture

OriginalPaper | Updated：2021-08-27

- Nitric oxide signaling molecules in acupoints: Toward mechanisms of acupuncture
- Nitric oxide signaling molecules in acupoints: Toward mechanisms of acupuncture
- 中国结合医学杂志（英文版） 2017年23卷第11期页码：812-815
- Affiliations：
  
  Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance,USA
- Author bio：
- Funds：
  
  Supported by National Institutes of Health Grant (No. AT002478, AT004620, and AT004504) from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine
- DOI：10.1007/s11655-017-2789-x
  中图分类号：
- 纸质出版日期：2017，
  
  网络出版日期：2017-10-28，
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Ma, Sx. Nitric oxide signaling molecules in acupoints: Toward mechanisms of acupuncture., Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 812–815 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-017-2789-x

Sheng-xing Ma. Nitric oxide signaling molecules in acupoints: Toward mechanisms of acupuncture[J]. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2017,23(11):812-815.
Ma, Sx. Nitric oxide signaling molecules in acupoints: Toward mechanisms of acupuncture., Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 812–815 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-017-2789-x DOI：

Sheng-xing Ma. Nitric oxide signaling molecules in acupoints: Toward mechanisms of acupuncture[J]. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2017,23(11):812-815. DOI： 10.1007/s11655-017-2789-x.

摘要

Recent clinical trial studies have demonstrated that the effects of acupuncture on pain improvement are small and no difference between acupoints and non-points. Whether acupuncture needles must be inserted in specific points depends on whether acupoint specificity exists that is still not resolved

and is now urgent. Previous anatomical studies have demonstrated that acupoints exist higher number of nerve fibers/trunks

blood vessels

hair follicles

and sweat glands as well as density of the gap junction. Recent evidence shows that nitric oxide (NO) level is elevated in the acupoints/ meridians and is associated with an enhanced expression of NO synthase endowed with transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1. There is growing evidence from international groups showing that acupuncture induces NO-mediated vasodilatation

which increases local blood flow and allows for a flush of algesic or sensitizing substances

leading to pain relief. Previous studies

using a novel biocapture system

have demonstrated that NOx– (total nitrite and nitrate) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) concentrations are consistently increased over skin acupoints compared to non-meridian control regions (NMCR) in humans. Dermal microdialysis in humans showed that NO-cGMP releases in the subcutaneous tissue of acupoint are higher than those in NMCR and increased by electroacupuncture (EA). Recent studies have demonstrated that low-frequency electrical stimulation and manual acupuncture with low stimulating force and rate produce an elevation of NO release predominantly over acupoints. In contrast

NO levels over the areas of the skin regions are moderately reduced by high-frequency EA stimulation. The results from anatomical and biochemical studies consistently show that acupoints exist higher levels of NO signaling molecules

and stimulus-evoked NO release is also with a higher level at acupoints. Results suggest that NO signaling molecules contribute to the specificity of acupoints

and selecting well-trained acupuncturetists for using correct acupoints and appropriate parameters should improve acupuncture clinical trial studies.

Abstract

and is now urgent. Previous anatomical studies have demonstrated that acupoints exist higher number of nerve fibers/trunks

blood vessels

hair follicles

which increases local blood flow and allows for a flush of algesic or sensitizing substances

leading to pain relief. Previous studies

using a novel biocapture system

and stimulus-evoked NO release is also with a higher level at acupoints. Results suggest that NO signaling molecules contribute to the specificity of acupoints

and selecting well-trained acupuncturetists for using correct acupoints and appropriate parameters should improve acupuncture clinical trial studies.

关键词

acupointNitric OxideelectroacupunctureManual Acupuncturereinforcement methods

Keywords

acupointNitric OxideelectroacupunctureManual Acupuncturereinforcement methods

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